Oil-temperature control for internal-combustion engines



April 23, m9. WZ mmzm OIL TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 2, 1927 Elm neuter,

(dummy Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

' UNITED STATES,

ADOLPH TULOWITZ, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

1,710,278 PATENT OFFICE.

- OIL-TEMPERATURE conrnor. ron- INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed'september 2, 1927. Serial No. 21'l,292.

The present invention relates to engines,

and more articularly to engines of the internal com ustion type, provided with the usual crank cage andoilpan from which oil is circulated or otherwise passed to parts of the engine requiring-lubrication.

An'object of the 'nvent-ion is to provide means for controlling the temperature of the oil, so that it may have the desired viscosity.

In the usual internal combustion engine, the oil is considerably heated, particularly in warm weather, by engagement with the cylinderwalls, etc., and the oil being-repeatedly circulated through the engine, without means for cooling the same, is continually maintained at a considerable de ree of heat. This results in the thinning oi the liquid,

reduction in its lubricating efficiency, and

the necessity for'frcquently replacing the same with fresh oil. lVhen the temperature lowers, as in winter, the oil becomes relatively thick, particularly after the engine has remained idle for a considerable period, and, as a consequence, the lubricating effect of the oil is considerably reduced until it has become heated'by operation of the enginc. Without means for heating this oil, other than contact with the moving parts. of the engine, the latter must operate for a considerable period with a materially impaired lubricating system, due to the thickness of the oil and its poor circulation.

An object of the invention is to provide means adapted for use with the usual internal combustion engine, which will control satisfactorily the oil tcmperature. The invention has as an object, the provision of automatic means responsive to the oil temperature for regulating the operation of the cooling and heating mechanism, as well as an auxiliary manually operable means, which may be used in case of emergency.

In the drawings Figurel is a side elevational view,

Figure 2 is a fragmentar vertical sectional view on substantially tie line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectiontaken through the exhaust pipe and the valve mechanism,

gigure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, an

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown a preferred embodiadapted to-contain oil up to the normal level indicated by the dotted line 12 in Figure 21 The motor is provided with the exhaust p pe 13 adapted to direct the'heated exhaust gases from the motor in the direction indicated by the arrow 14 in Figure 1.'

Within the crankcase is arranged a tortuous passage exemplified by the substantially U-shaped coil 15, one end 20 of which is connected by an elbow 21 with a branch 22 of a sleeve 23 encircling the exhaust pipe. -The exhaust pipe is provided with a lateral opening 24, through which exhaustgases may be directed by means of a valve 25 when the latter is in the full-line position indicated in Figure 3, the valve bein mounted upon a rock shaft 26. A second branch 27 connected to the sleeve 23 contains a valve'28 mounted upon a rock shaft 29, the rock shafts 26 and .29 being connected. by link 30, which at its ends is secured to arms 31 upon the rock shafts. The link is arranged so that when the valve 25 is open, so as to direct gases through the elbow 21 and passage 15, they will impart a substantial amount of heat to the 'oil within the crank case, and the amount of the heat radiated may, of course, be increased by lengthening the passage 15.

The gases, after traveling throu h the heating passage 15, are discharged t rough an outlet funnel 32, which is directed for- 'wardly for a purpose later to be described. The funnel is connected with the end 15 0f the coil 15, by means of a. rearwardly and downwardly and then u wardly directed elbow 33, which is provi ed at its lowermost portion with an opening 34, so that if water or sediment should enter the funnel 31 as the vehicle moves, it will gravitate through the opening 34, and not pass intoby the funnel 32, as the vehicles moves forwai-dly, to pass through the passage 15, and then be discharged through branch 27. A considerable volume of air -will thus be directed through the passage, and its force will be increased by the suction created at the rearwardly disposed branch 27 As the vehicle moves, the force of air passing the open end of branch 27 will create a considerable suction within the bran-ch and-passage 15, thus assisting'in conducting the air,

actuating the valves, such as, for instance,

the manually operable rod 37 connected by means of arm 38 with the extended end of the rock shaft 29. In addition to this manually controlled operable means, however, it is desirable to provide automatic means responsive to the oil temperature. For instance, a thermostat mechanism 40, having a portion 41 projecting into the oil within the crank case, may be connected by means of a rod 42 with an upwardly projecting arm 43 on shaft 29, so that as the temperature of the oil varies, the valves .25, 28 may be moved between their positions illustrated in Figure 3.

Obviously, the construction disclosed may be varied considerably without departing from the invention, the essence of which consists in providing means selectively operable for passing either a heating medium or a cooling medium in proximity to the oil, preferably, when in the crank case. Various modifications of the structure illustrated will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim 1. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank case adapted to contain oil, means forming a passage in the crank case excluded from the oil, said passage being disposed below the normal oil level, whereby a medium passed therethrough may be substantially surrounded by' the oil, and means 0 erable selectively to direct either an oil eating medium or an oil cooling medium through said passage and below the normal oil level, whereby to control the temperature of the oil in the crank case.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a crank case, means operable selectively to direct either an oil heating medium or an oil coolingmedium in proximity to the oil in said crank case, means responsive to the 011 temperature for automatically controlling the selective operation of said 7 first mentioned means, and

manually operable means for controlling the case, a means having tortuous passage ex- 7 tending through a. portion of said crank case belowthe normal oil level, so las to be normally submerged in the oil, and means operable selectively ,to direct either the exhaust gases or a cooling medium through said passage whereby to control the temperature of the oil in the crank case.

4. In an internal combustion engine provided with the usual oil containingcrank case, means having a tortuous passage extending through a portion of said crank case below the normal oil level so as to be normally submerged in the oil, and means automatically operable selectively to direct either the exhaust gases or a cooling medium through said passage whereby to control the temperature of the oil in the crank case.

I 5'. Inan internal combustion engine provided with the usual oil containing crank case, means having a tortuous passage extending through a portion of said crank case below the normal oil level so as to be normally submerged inthe oil, means operable selectively todircct either the exhaust gases or a cooling; medium through said passage whereby t'ofcontrol the temperature of the oil in the crank case, and both automatically and manually operable means for controlling the selective operation of said last mentioned means. I

6. In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided with the usual crank case, means having a tort-nous passage extending through a portion of the crank case below the normal oil level so as to be normally submerged in oil, means operable to direct exhaust gases through said passage to raise the temperature of the oil in the crank case, and means operable upon discontinuance of the passage of exhaust gases to permit acooling medium to be directed through said passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ADOLPH TULOWITZ. 

